Meet the High Point University student broadcasters who broke out in the first round of March Madness originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
March Madness isn’t just about the players. Sometimes the most exciting moments happen just feet away from the field, where the raw emotion of the game is expressed.
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This year, High Point University student broadcasters Jimmy Rosselli and Griffin Wright were the unexpected stars of the opening round, capturing the hearts of millions with their unfiltered, spicy voices as the Panthers pulled off a historic 83-82 victory over fifth-seeded Wisconsin.
Rosselli and Wright — the duo behind “The Jimmy and Griff Show” — shed their professional restraints as 12th-seeded High Point earned the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament win in Portland. When Irving Aquino threw the game-clinching block in the final seconds, Rosselli’s voice reached fever pitch, shouting, “Put on the glass slipper! It’s a Cinderella story in Portland, Oregon!”
The viral video resonated far beyond High Point’s campus and was a poignant reminder of why college sports remain so beloved. For Rosselli and Wright, this moment was the culmination of a partnership built on genuine friendship. Their ability to translate pure “March Magic” into a soundscape of pure joy made them a household name overnight, proving that anyone – even the person behind the microphone – can have their own “shining moment” in the NCAA Tournament.
Meet these two broadcasters beloved by college basketball fans.
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Who are the student broadcasters at High Point University?
The hottest voices behind this moment for High Point are junior Jimmy Rosselli and senior Griffin Wright. The pair host “The Jimmy and Griff Show” on the university’s student radio station HPUR “The Sound” and have become the faces of student media since March this year. Rosselli, 20, of Huntington, N.Y., handles live broadcasts, while Wright, 22, of Richmond, Va., provides commentary.
Their national prominence began last year when a video of them claiming the Panthers won the Big South title went viral and ended up being featured on “Good Morning America.” However, their 2026 Encore has reached a higher level of power. The pair’s raw, unbridled passion captured the essence of the tournament’s “madness” as the 12th-seeded Panthers defeated Wisconsin 83-82 in Portland.
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History of Seed Disturbance:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5
High Point Viral Broadcast Call
Rosselli and Wright were at full strength when High Point returned to beat Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon.
More: High Point, Chase Johnston beat Wisconsin
Where do the High Point basketball teams come from?
The High Point University Panthers are headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, in the Piedmont Triad region of the state. The city is known as the “Home Furnishing Capital of the World,” a designation the university has embraced as the campus continues to expand alongside the local community.
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The team’s home stadium is the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, a state-of-the-art facility opening in 2021. The arena is part of a larger $170 million complex that includes a conference center and boutique hotel that embodies the school’s unique “life skills” mission. On game days, the university’s signature royal purple and white colors define the atmosphere, and the field itself is named in honor of former player-coach Tubby Smith and his wife, Donna.
Although the university is private and about 80% of its students come from outside North Carolina, its basketball team has become a source of pride for locals.
More: Who is Chase Johnston of High Point?
High Point University Admissions
In the 2025-2026 school year, High Point will have approximately 6,550 students. These include 5,301 undergraduate students and 1,249 postgraduate students pursuing degrees in various disciplines. The university has experienced unprecedented growth over the past two decades, nearly quadrupling its enrollment since 2005 through aggressive campus expansion and the addition of several new professional schools
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The current freshman class is the largest in the school’s 101-year history, with 1,671 first-year students. That’s a nearly 10 percent increase over last year’s record-setting class and signals a continued rise in the university’s national profile. Last fall, the university welcomed 1,780 new undergraduate students to its North Carolina campus, including transfer students
A notable feature of the student body is that approximately 80% of the students come from outside North Carolina. This growth has been supported by more than 100 new or renovated buildings, including purpose-built facilities for the university’s expanding medical and legal programs.
More: Chase Johnston’s High Point Statistics
